Rogers Arena is the site for an East-West tilt as the Montreal Canadiens pay a visit to the Vancouver Canucks. The action will get started at 10 p.m. ET on Tuesday, December 19, and you’ll be able to view it live on Reseau Des Sports.
Montreal Canadiens at Vancouver Canucks Odds
Montreal (-135) is currently favored over Vancouver (+115), and the Over/Under (O/U) is set at 6 goals. The odds for betting the total stand at -120 for the under and +100 for the over.
Vancouver is 15-19 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 0.5 units this season. That early-season winning percentage is a welcome improvement over the 30-52 record from the 2016-17 season campaign. Of the team’s 34 games this season, 19 have gone over the total, while 15 have gone under and none have pushed. The team is 6-11 SU at home this season.
The Canucks have connected on 21.8 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a mark that places them in the top-10 among NHL teams. On the other hand, their penalty kill is ranked 22nd overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 79.5 percent of all penalties.
As a team, the Canucks have been penalized 4.0 times per game overall this season, and 5.0 per game over their last five home outings. The team’s had to kill penalties for 11.6 minutes per game over their last five home outings.
Averaging 25.9 saves per game with a .907 save percentage, Jacob Markstrom (9-15-3) has been the primary option in goal for the Nucks this season. If Vancouver chooses to give him the night off, however, it may turn to Anders Nilsson (6-6-6 record, .914 save percentage, 3.13 goals against average).
Brock Boeser and Henrik Sedin will each lead the way for the Canucks. Boeser (30 points) has tallied 17 goals and 13 assists and has recorded multiple points in six different games this year. Sedin has two goals and 21 assists to his name and has notched a point in 15 games.
On the other bench, Montreal is 14-19 straight up (SU) and has lost 9.1 units for bettors taking the moneyline this year. Through 33 regular season matches, 16 of its games have gone under the total, while 15 have gone over and just two have pushed. The Canadiens are 5-9 SU as the away team this season.
The Canadiens have converted on 17.3 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 24th overall and it’s successfully defended 78.9 percent of all opponent power plays.
Montreal’s players have been penalized 4.0 times per game this season, 4.0 per game over their past five outings total, and 4.0 per game over their last five road outings. The team has been forced to stave off opponent power plays just 7.5 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Carey Price (26.9 saves per game) has been the main option in the net for Montreal. Price owns a 9-12-2 record, while registering a .905 save percentage and 3.00 goals against average this year.
Leading the offensive counter for the visiting Canadiens will be Brendan Gallagher (13 goals, six assists) and Phillip Danault (six goals, 13 assists).
Montreal Canadiens vs. Vancouver Canucks Betting Predictions
Predictions: SU Winner – Canadiens, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Notes
Vancouver is 0-2 in games decided by a shootout this season while Montreal is 1-1 in shootouts.
The over has hit in each of Vancouver’s last five outings.
Six of Montreal’s last ten games have been decided by two goals or more. The team is 4-2 in those games.
Montreal skaters have accounted for the third-most hits in the league (25.4 per game), but the team’s averaged just 21.8 hits over their last five away games.
